Scripture: “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” I Peter 2:24

By: Jason Felton

This is one of my favorite times of the year. Fall is hitting its peak, Thanksgiving is this month, and Christmas is just around the corner. However, there is one thing that I just don’t look forward to at all- the start of the cold and flu season. I hate being sick and it’s even worse when you have a spouse or kids. If you’re like me, I’m sure you’re not a fan of sore throats, runny noses, high fevers, and the worst of all: vomiting and diarrhea. The good news is there is Someone who paid the price so we don’t have to be sick.

A lot of people know that Jesus died on the cross for their sins, but many people forget that he also took away all of our sickness and disease. Isaiah 53 says, “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Aren’t you thankful that He bore every ache, pain, and illness on that cross? We are free from sickness because of what Jesus did for us! He went through all that He went through (the nails, the crown of thorns, the beatings, the mocking…) for the healing of our bodies. What love He has for us!

So who or what do you turn to when you get sick? I don’t just want to talk about the big chronic illnesses you may deal with, but the daily illnesses you may battle. You know the things I mentioned in the list above that come with cold and flu season. What about seasonal allergies or the daily headaches? What about the lower back pain that comes and goes or the chronic cough you’ve learned to live with? Jesus paid the price for those things too! Oh, we all pray and pray a lot for the person that has cancer, or the one that has a brain tumor, or any other serious life threatening ailment. But once again, what about those things that are just a nuisance? “Well we all get sick, it’s just part of life. It’s not that big of a deal, I’ve just learned to live with it.” That’s not God’s will for you!

Sickness has no place in the body of a believer! From the most deadly cancer all the way down to the most common cold, He has provided healing for us! I Corinthians 6:19 says, “Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost.” This temple, this body where Christ resides, not only is to be kept clean from sin, but the provision was made for us to be free from sickness as well! It’s not God’s will for you to be sick, and until you realize that you will never be healed. Any sickness, disease, or pain is of Satanic origin. Everything that comes to steal, kill, and destroy is of the devil and God is not the author of it. You don’t have to be sick, have pain, or be tormented anymore! Jesus Christ has set you free!

So the next time your kid wakes up vomiting in the middle of the night, don’t just have the attitude of let’s get through it. Pray for them, and believe that they will be touched immediately. It’s not just something that happens. It’s of the devil, and that illness has no right to be in that body! The next time your spouse gets the sniffles and sore throat, lay hands on them and see them recover (Mark 16:18). Not once the cold has run it’s course, believe for them to be healed instantaneously! You, your friends, and your loved ones don’t have to be sick. A thousand shall fall at thy side and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it SHALL NOT come nigh thee (Psalm 91:7)! So as we enter this time of year, don’t just try to cope with it the best you can. Step out in faith and grab hold of the promise of God that says by His stripes you are healed (no matter how big or small). No deadly thing shall harm you. Jesus bore the sickness, so we don’t have to bare it in our bodies anymore. PRAISE GOD! DON’T LET WHAT HE DID BE DONE IN VAIN! DON’T LOSE SIGHT OF THAT PROMISE!! IT’S HIS WILL AND DESIRE FOR EACH OF OUR LIVES TO BE COMPLETELY WHOLE!!